Meet Nancie Vito of Flourish Wellness in Old Fourth Ward

Nancie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. My background lies in mental health, public health and social services, and for five years, I worked in depression research and depression awareness education.

In early 2009, just about the time my work started to feel a bit heavy and I needed a change, I discovered a body of research existed on human flourishing, positive mental health, and overall well-being. It truly lit me up (and still does). I delved in and was able to apply what I learned to my own life, and ultimately, received more formal training to help others flourish too. I now focus on the positive side of the mental health spectrum, helping people thrive and flourish rather than “just getting by.” There are people who may not be clinically depressed, yet might feel as if they are in a rut and a decision away from a change. Since 2009, I have been helping motivated individuals get unstuck, prevent burnout and design a life they feel is aligned with what is important to them.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?There are always challenges and opportunities to learn!! It’s all in how we handle them though, right?

So before I started my business, there was a time in my life in which I constantly felt overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out with my jobs. I didn’t trust myself or my intuition.

And while I loved my jobs, and the people with whom I worked, there was a point when my work started to feel a bit heavy. There was indeed a turning point, a moment of realization if you will. I knew there had to be more to life than working in a cubicle. It just wasn’t me.

Ultimately, what I realized was that I was actually creating a lot of my own stress and overwhelm. That’s when I learned more about the research behind happiness and really delved into personal development. I knew it was time for me to find even more fulfillment and to re-write my own story. I wanted a life filled with more excitement, fun and freedom. I liked the idea of being independent, and freedom is one of my top core values.

We are all works in progress; self-growth and development are part of a life-long journey. What I realized though is there is no reason to stay stuck or continue to feel burned out.

It’s not to say that since I created my coaching practice that there haven’t been challenges as well! A whole new set of challenges arrived when I started my business in 2009, from learning to deal with perfectionism, procrastination, and how to handle it when well-meaning people did not support me in my decision to leave a “good job” to become self-employed. Eight years later, I’m still in business, I can work from anywhere since I work with clients via phone and Skype, and can create my own schedule…all while helping others follow their hearts and reach their own goals.

Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?My company is Flourish Wellness, and as I mentioned I specialize in helping people flourish. This includes helping them get unstuck or out of a rut, find fulfillment and design a life that truly feels awesome to them.

I also provide workshops, webinars and trainings for groups and organizations on overall happiness, stress reduction and burnout prevention using research-based techniques.

What sets me aside from others is 1) I have been through the “stuckness” myself, and know what it can feel like 2) I have received a lot of training in this area. I have earned over 75 graduate level university credits, and have received training on evidence-based practices on positive psychology and stress reduction from top universities. I originally learned coaching techniques in 2006, and started my own business in 2009, so in a world where so many people are becoming coaches, I am not a newbie.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?Great question! I have received some accolades, been featured in online publications such as Huffington Post and MindBodyGreen, and co-authored a nursing textbook chapter on mental health. Yet my proudest moments often involve seeing my clients reach their big goals and dreams. When I see a clear “before and after” from working with me is what’s fun. I feel proud to have helped people go from feeling stuck (often in a job they hate to the point to which it was impacting their health) and putting their own needs on the back burner, to truly thriving and living a more fulfilled life. Seeing others gain the courage to live the life they want truly lights me up.